President Lee Jae-myung stated on August 21 that while there have been improvements, the lingering corruption in the political sphere must be closely examined and eradicated.
During the opening remarks at the first Anti-Corruption Policy Council meeting held at the Blue House, President Lee urged, "Please push forward with anti-corruption policies unwaveringly until our citizens feel, 'Things have truly changed.'"
He emphasized that there should be no partisanship in the fight against corruption, stating, "In the eradication of corruption, there can be no 'us versus them.' It is necessary to proceed with clear principles, fairly and rigorously, without exceptions."
President Lee also highlighted the need to combat corruption within the public sector. He remarked, "Although South Korea's economic standing has significantly improved, no matter how impressive the economic indicators are, if the government and public officials fail to earn the trust of the people, all these achievements can easily collapse like a sandcastle." He stressed the importance of establishing principles and standards and adopting a responsible attitude.
He noted, "As of 2025, South Korea ranks 31st out of 182 countries in terms of integrity. While we rank in the top ten in other areas, being 31st in integrity is somewhat embarrassing."
Furthermore, he stated, "As our economic scale and national power grow, stricter standards must be applied to the transparency of the public sector and the integrity of public officials. As the expectations of the people rise, we must carefully examine whether we have been turning a blind eye to issues by making excuses such as 'this has been the case for a long time' or 'this is a past practice,' and if so, we must correct them immediately."
President Lee also urged efforts to eliminate corruption in the private sector, including the involvement of local factions in vested interests.
He concluded, "Establishing the principles of fairness and justice in our society is not a task that can be completed in a year or two. It requires continuous and ongoing efforts. I ask the relevant departments to approach their work with the determination to meet the expectations of the people."
Finally, President Lee reflected, "The international community highly values South Korea's political capabilities. Although we faced difficulties for a time, we restored our democratic order without shedding a drop of blood or resorting to violence, thanks to the strength of our people."
He encouraged, "To move toward an irreplaceable South Korea, our domestic order must be fair. This is the core goal of our anti-corruption policy, and I urge everyone to carry out their duties with a strong sense of mission."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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